The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 30, 2003
Filed:
May. 31, 2002
Jeffrey A. Ely, Kokomo, IN (US);
James W Ananias, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Tillasthanam V. Sriram, Carmel, IN (US);
Delphi Technologies, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
An improved series-pass over-voltage protection circuit for a motor vehicle electrical system includes first and second parallel connected power paths that respectively provide low current capability with low quiescent current drain, and high current capability with low on-resistance. The first power path, embodied by a P-channel MOSFET, supplies pass-through battery current to quiescent loads such as an engine control module during periods of vehicle inactivity. The second power path, embodied by at least one N-channel MOSFET, is activated by a gate voltage power supply during periods of vehicle activity. The second power path is configured to limit the circuit output voltage to a higher value than the first power path, so that the over-voltage protection during periods of vehicle activity is accomplished by the second power path.